I’m trying to make a Telegram bot that can greet users when they open the chat window. Here’s what I want to happen:
- The user has already added my bot and talked to it before
- The user opens the chat with my bot
- My bot notices this and sends a message right away
- The bot says something like ‘Hi there! Need any help?’
Is there a way to make this work? I’ve looked through the Telegram Bot API but can’t find anything about detecting when a user opens the chat. Does anyone know if this is possible or if there’s a workaround?
I thought about using a timer to send periodic messages, but that seems spammy. Maybe there’s a better way? Any ideas would be super helpful!
As someone who’s worked extensively with Telegram bots, I can tell you that unfortunately, there’s no direct way to detect when a user opens a chat. Telegram’s API doesn’t provide this functionality for privacy reasons.
However, I’ve found a workaround that might help. You could use the ‘last seen’ status of a user. When a user opens Telegram, their status usually updates. Your bot could periodically check this status and send a greeting if it changes.
Keep in mind, this method isn’t foolproof. Some users hide their online status, and it might not always trigger exactly when they open your chat. Plus, constantly checking statuses could be resource-intensive.
Another approach I’ve used is to send a welcome message when the user sends their first message after a long period of inactivity. This feels more natural and less intrusive.
Ultimately, it’s about finding a balance between engagement and respecting user privacy. Hope this helps with your project!
I’ve encountered this challenge before, and you’re right, there’s no direct API method to detect chat opening. However, a strategy I’ve implemented successfully is using inline keyboards with callback queries.
Here’s the approach: Send a message with an inline keyboard when the user first interacts with the bot. This message stays at the top of the chat. When the user opens the chat and clicks a button, it triggers a callback query, allowing your bot to respond immediately.
This method isn’t perfect, as it requires user action, but it’s less intrusive than periodic messages and more reliable than checking online status. It also provides a clear entry point for users to re-engage with your bot.
Remember to keep your inline keyboard simple and relevant to maintain a good user experience.
sry mate, telegram bots cant actually tell when u open the chat. its kinda a privacy thing. but heres a trick - u could send a welcome message with some buttons when they first talk to ur bot. that way, when they come back and tap a button, ur bot can say hi right away. not perfect but works pretty good!